Filter.



No. 707,899. 7 Patented Aug. 26, I902.

F. BOMMARIUS.

FILTER.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shed I.

m: uonms Finns cu]. wmauma. WASHINGTON n. c.

No. 707,899. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

F. BOMMARIUS.

FILTER.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

lhvrrnn fira'rns PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK BOMMARIUS, OF NE\V ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FILTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,899, dated August26, 1902. Application filed December 31, 19 01. Serial No. 87,988. Nomodel.)

To all when it may concern:

Beit known that LFREDERICK BOMMARIUS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Filters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to filters, and is in the nature of animprovement on the filter for which I obtained Letters Patent of theUnited States on the 29th day of August, 1899, and numbered 632,091.

The present invention has for its object to improve the construction ofthe filter shown in said Letters Patent and to render its operation moreefficient and thorough.

To these ends myinvention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of myimproved filterthat is particu larly designed for filters of relatively small capacity.Fig. 2 is asimilarview ofaslight-lymodified construction especiallydesigned for filters of large capacity, and Fig. 3 is a detailedsectional view of the three-way valve employed in both arrangements.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates thefilter-casing, preferably comprising a cylindrical upright metallicvessel having securelyaffixed at its upper and lower ends heads,respectively indicated by the numerals 2 and 3. Firmly affixed in theupper portion of the vessel 1 at a suitable distance below the head 2 isa diaphragm 4, having inserted therein a plurality of short tubes 5.Said tubes 5 are preferably formed of brass and are provided withhorizontal slits 6. The upper ends of the tubes 5 may be threaded orexpanded in suitable perforations formed in the diaphragm 4 and theirlower ends are closed by screwplugs or caps 7. In the lower portion ofthe filter-casing 1 is arranged a horizontally-disposed pipe 8, which issupported on the bottom head 3 by pedestals 9, and fitted in the upperside of said pipe 8 is a plurality of horizontallyslitted tubes 10,constructed in all respects in manner similar to the tubes 5, beforereferred to. The pipe 8 projects through one side of the filter-casingand is threaded, as at 11. Formed on the upper side of the pipe 8 is astep-bearing 1.2, in which is stepped the lower end of the verticalshaft 13, and the upper end of said shaft projects through a sleeve 14,which passes through a central perforation formed in the diaphragm 4 andis attached at its upper end to the under side of the head 2. Secured tothe upper side of said head, above the upper end of the sleeve, is astufii ng-box 15,through which the upper end of the said shaft projectsand in which it is tightly packed. Fixed on the shaft 13 in its lowerend are perforated stirrer-arms 16, that project horizontally andradially from said shaft. On the upper end of the shaft 13 is fixed abeveled gear-wheel 17, that gears with the corresponding beveled pinion18,mounted on a horizontal shaft 19, having a bearing in a suitablebracket-arm 20,secured to the head 2. On the end of the shaft 19 isfixed a crank-handle 21, by means of which rotary movement may beimparted to the stirrer-arms 16, for the purpose hereinafter described.Coupled to the threaded end of the pipe 8, before referred to, is adischarge-pipe 22, provided with a handvalve 23, and coupled to saidpipe and extending vertically therefrom is a pipe 24:, which atits'upper end projects into the filtercasing at a point between thediaphragm 1 and head 2. Arranged in the pipe 24 is a three-way valve 25,provided with a handle 26, and coupled to the casing of said valve is awater-inlet pipe 27, that may lead from a water-main, reservoir, or anyother suitable source of supply, and has arranged in it a hand-valve 28.A waste-pipe 29 is connected at one end to the pipe 24 at a pointbetween the three-way valve and its upper end and is provided with ahand-valve 30. In the space above the diaphragm at is deposited asuitable quantity of iron filings, and a suitable quantity of the samematerial is deposited in the lower end of the filter-casing at a pointbelow the stirrer-arms 16. The body of the filtercasiug above thestirrer-arms and up to the under side of the diaphragm 4: is filled witha charge of sand.

The operation of this form of my filter is as follows: The valve 30 inthe waste-pipe 29 and a similar valve 32 in the lower end of the pipe 24are closed. The valve 28 in the inletpipe 27 is opened, and thethree-way valve 25 is turned to place the pipe 27 and the upper part ofthe pipe 24 in communication. \Vater then enters by pipes 27 and 24 intothe upper end of the filter-casing above the diaphragm 4 and firstpasses through the iron filings and through the slitted tubes 5. It thenpasses on downward through the bed of sand, andin the lower end of thecasing again passes through the bed of iron filings. If the valve 23 benow opened, the water will pass into the slitted tubes 10 and thence bythe pipe 8 and the discharge-pipe 22 to the point where it is to beused. Should the filter become foul or in need of cleansing, the valves23 and 32 are closed. The three-way valve is turned to a position toplace the inlet-pipe 27 in communication with the lower end of the pipe24. The valve 30 in the waste-pipe 29 is then opened, as is also thevalve 28 in the inletpipe. The water will then flow through theinlet-pipe 27 and the lower end of the pipe 24 into the pipe 22 and fromthe latter into the pipe 8, from whence it will be discharged in anupward direction through the slitted tubes 10. The water then passesupward through the iron filings and the sand bed in the body of thefilter-casing, thence through the slitted tubes 6 into the space betweenthe diaphragm 4 and head 2, and thence out by-the pipe 24, and isdischarged through the waste-pipe 29. While the water is thus passing inthis manner through the filter the crank 29 is turned and through themedium of the gearing described rotates the shaft 13 and thestirrer-arms carried by the latter and stirs up and agitates thefiltering material. The water in its upward passage is thus enabled towash off the impurities from every particle of the filtering materialand discharges said impurities through the wastepipe 29, as beforestated. After the filter has been thoroughly cleansed it may be restoredto its former position in the manner described and the filteringoperation resu med. By arranging the diaphragm 4 in the filtercasing inthe manner described the iron filings through which the water is firstcaused to pass are prevented from working their way down through thesand bed into the bottom of the filter, which they otherwise would doowing to their superior weight. Furthermore, by making the slitted tubes5 pendent from the diaphragm 4 and by causing the slitted tubes 10 toproject vertically upward from the pipe 8 the water during the filteringoperation is distributed downwardly through the filtering material fromthe space above the diaphragm 4, while in the cleansing operation thewater is directed by the slitted tubes 10 to flush out the filteringmaterial. I have described the tubes as being horizontally slitted. Saidslits, however, may be formed vertically or may consist of round orother suitably-shaped perforations or apertures. I have also describedthe pipe Sin the lower portion of the filter-casing as being a straightpipe; but it is obvious thatit might be formed in the shape of a coil ora ring or annulus or any other suitable or approved shape withoutdeparting from the spirit of.

the invention.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the construction isin most respects identical with that immediately above described. Thoseparts shown in Fig. 2 which are constructed and arranged in the samemanner as corresponding parts in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 will bedesignated by the same reference-numerals.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates thefilter-casing, closed filter-casing is a transverse diaphragm 33,projecting upwardly from which are slitted tubes 10, open at theirlowerends and threaded or expanded into suitable perforations formed insaid diaphragms, the upper ends of the said tubes being closed by plugsor caps in manner similar to the tubes 5. Aspace 34isformed between thelower diaphragm 33 and the bottom head 3 and said space termed acollecting-chamber, which term may also be used to designate the pipe 8.(Shown in Fig. 1.) Fixed centrally to the bottom of the head 3is apedestal 35, which is bolted to the under side of the diaphragm 33 andforms a support to the latter and for the shaft 13, which is stepped ina bearing 36, bolted to the upper side of the diaphragm 33 immediatelyabove the pedestal. Said shaft is provided with horizontalradially-extending perforated stirrer-arms 16 and projects at its upperend through a sleeve 14, fixed centrally in the diaphragm 4 andconnected at its upper end to the head 2. The shaft also projectsthrough a stufiing-box 15, fixed on the upper side of the head-tube, andat its upper end is provided with a bevel or gear wheel 17, that gearswith a corresponding pinion gear-wheel 18, fixed on the horizontal shaft19, having a bearing in a bracket 20 and provided at itsextremitywithacrank-handle 21. Connected with the collecting-chamber 34is a dischargepipe 22, provided with a hand-valve 23, and connected withpipe 22 and extending vertically therefrom is a pipe 24, the upperend-of which projects into the filter-casing above the diaphragm 4. Thispipe 24 for the purpose of distinguishing it from the other pipes istermed the feed-pipe, and the corresponding pipe 24 in Fig. 1 islikewise designated I by the same term. Arranged in the feed-pipe 24 isathree-wayvalve 25, and connected with the casing of said valve is aservice-pipe 27, leading from the water-main or other suitable source ofsupply. A valve 28 is arranged in the service'pipe and is for thepurpose of c011- trolling the passage of water therethrough. Thewaste-pipe 29 is connected with the feedpipe 24 at a point above thethree-way valve and is provided with a hand-valve 30. Arranged above thelateral branch of the service-pipe 27 and communicating at its lower endwith the latter is a reservoir 37, in the lower portion of which isarranged a strainer 38, and disposed in said reservoir and resting onsaid strainer is a quantity of iron filings. A pipe 39 leads from theupper end of the reservoir and connects with the upper part of thefeed-pipe 24. Said reservoir at its upper end is provided with anormally closed charg= ing-inlet 40, into which the iron filings may beintroduced, and at its lower end at the point where it connects with theservice-pipe is provided with a hand-valve 41. A wastepipe 42 is pendentfrom the lateral branch of the service-pipe 27 at a point immediatelybelow the valve 41 and is provided with a handvalve 43. A quantity ofiron filings is disposed in the filter-casin g above the diaphragm 4,and, if preferred,a suitable quantity of such filings may be disposed inthe lower portion of the filter-casing between the diaphragm 33 and thestirrer-arms 16,the space between said last-named bed of iron filingsand the under side of the upper diaphragm 4 being filled with a bed ofsand or the like. If the valves 23,41, 43, and 30 be closed, thethree-way valve 25 be turned to place the service-pipe 27 incommunication with the upper part of the pipe 24, and the valve 28 beopened, the water will then flow by the service-pipe 27 and the upperpart of the feed-pipe 24 into the space in the filter-casing above thediaphragm 4. The water will then filtrate through the iron filings, willpass through the slitted tubes into that portion of the casing below thediaphragm 4, will then filtrate through the bed of sand and through thelower bed of iron filings, will pass through the slitted tubes 10 andinto the collecting-chamber 34, from whence it will be conducted by thedischargepipe 22 and may be withdrawn from the latter as needed for use.lVhen it becomes necessary to flush out the filter to cleanse thefilter-beds, the three-way valve 25 is turned to place the service-pipe27 in communication with the lower branch of the feed-pipe 24, and thevalve 30 in the waste-pipe 29 is opened. The water will then pass by theservice-pipe 29 and pipes 24 and 22 into the collectingchamber 34, willthence pass out of the said chamber by the slitted tubes 10, and willpass up through the iron filings and sand and through the slitted tubes5 into the space above the diaphragm 4, passing through the iron filingscontained in said space, and thence out by the upper branch of thefeedpipe 24 and is conducted off by the wastepipe 29, the arrangementbeing identically the same as that before described with reference tothe arrangement shown in Fig. 1. When, however, it is desirable that thewater to be filtered should pass through a greaterquantity of ironfilings than is contained in the space above the diaphragm 4 beforebeing filtered through the bed of sand, the valve 41 is opened and thethree-way valve 25 is then tn rned so as to shut off all communicationbetween the service-pipe 27 and both branches of the feed-pipe 24. Thewater will then pass through the service-pipe 27 up through the strainerand the iron filings contained in the reservoir 37, and thence pass bythe pipe 39 and upper portion of the pipe 24 into the space above thediaphragm 4, and from thence the filtering operation will proceed in themanner before described. When the reservoir is to be thrown out ofoperation, the valve 28 may be. closed and the valves 41 and 43 opened,whereupon the water contained in the reservoir will drain off by gravitythrough the waste-pipe 42, after which the valves 41 and 43 are closed,the valve 28 opened, and the three -way valve turned to a position toput the service-pipe 27 in communication with the upper branch of thefeed-pipe, whereupon the water will pass on to the filter withoutpassing through the reservoir.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a filter, thecombination with the filter-casing having an inlet in its upper end andan outlet in its lower end, of a perforated diaphragm fitted in theupper part of the easing below the inlet, slitted tubes fittedat theirupper ends in said perforations and closed at their lower ends, acollecting-chamber arranged in the lower end of the casing andconnecting with the outlet, slitted tubes projecting upwardly from saidcollectingchamber and closed at their upper ends, and filtering-bedsarranged respectively above and below the diaphragm in the upper portionof the filter-casing, substantially as described.

2. In a filter, the combination with the filter-casing having an inletin its upper end and an outlet inits lower end, of a perforateddiaphragm fitted in the upper part of the easing below the inlet,slitted tubes fitted at their upper ends in said perforations and closedat their lower ends, a collecting-chamber arranged in the lower end ofthe casing and connecting with the outlet, slitted tubes projectingupwardly through said collectingi chamber and closed at their upperends, and means for reversing the passage of the water through thefilter, substantially as described.

3. In a filter, the combination with the filtor-casing having an inletin its upper end and an outlet in its lower end, of a perforateddiaphragm fitted in the upper part of the easing below the inlet,slitted tubes fitted at their upper ends in said perforations and closedattheir lower ends, a collecting-chamber arranged in the lower part ofthe casing and communicating with the outlet, slitted tubes projectingupwardly from said collecting-chamber and closed at their upper ends, afilter-bed of iron filings arranged in the casing above the upperdiaphragm, and a filterbed of sand arranged in the casing below theupper diaphragm, substantially as described.

4. In a filter, the combination with the filter-casing having an inletin its upper end, and an outlet in its lower end, of a perforateddiaphragm fitted in the upper part of the casing below the inlet,slitted tubes fitted at their upper ends in said perforations and closedat their lower ends, a collecting-chamber arranged in the lower end ofthe casing and communicating with the outlet, slitted tubes projectingupwardly from said collecting-chamber and closed at their upper ends,filter-beds arranged above and below the diaphragm in the upper portionof the filter-casing, a vertical shaft arranged centrally in thefilter-casing and projecting through the top of the latter, perforatedstirrer-arms fixed on the lower portion of said shaft above thecollecting-chamber, and gearing arranged externally of the casing forrotating said shaft and stirrer-arms, substantially as described.

5. In a filter, the combination with the filter-casing having an inletin its upper end and an outlet in its lower end, of a perforateddiaphragm fitted in the upper part of the easing below the inlet,slitted tubes fitted at their upper ends in said perforations and closedat their lower ends, a collecting-chamber arranged in the lower end ofthe casing and communicating with the outlet, slitted tubes projectingupwardly from said collecting-chamber and closed at their upper ends, avalved discharge-pipe leading from the outlet, a feed-pipe leading fromthe dischargepipe to the inlet, a service-pipe connected with saidfeed-pipe intermediate the ends of the latter and a three-way valve fordiverting the water from the service-pipe to either branch of thefeed-pipe, substantially as described.

6. In a filter, the combination with the fil ter-casing having an inletin its upper end and an outlet in its lower end, of a perforateddiaphragm fitted in the upper part of the casing below the inlet,slitted tubes fitted at their upper ends in said perforations and closedat their lower ends, a collecting chamber arranged in the lower end ofthe casing and communicating with the outlet, slitted tubes projectingupwardly from said collecting-chamber and closed at their upper ends,filter-beds arranged respectively above and below the diaphragm in theupper part of the casing, a valved disharge-pipe leading from theoutlet,

a feed-pipe leading from the discharge-pipe to the inlet, a service-pipeconnected with said feed-pipe intermediate the ends of the latter, athree-way valve for diverting the water from the service-pipe to eitherbranch of the feed-pipe, and a valved waste-pipe connected with thefeedpipe above said threeway valve, substantially as described.

7. In a filter, the combination with a filtercasing having an inlet inits upperend and an outlet in its lower end, and a collectingchamber inits lower end communicating with said outlet, of a valved discharge-pipeleading from the outlet, a feed-pipe connected with one end of saiddischarge-pipe and at its other end with the upper end of thefiltercasing, and provided with a valved wastepipe, a service-pipeconnected with the feedpipe intermediate the ends of the latter, athree-way valve for diverting the water from the servicepipe to eitherbranch of the feedpipe or for shutting off the communication betweensaid pipes altogether, areservoir connected at its lower end by a valvedcommunication with said service-pipe and at its 11pper end communicatingby a pipe with the upper branch of the feed-pipe, a strainer arranged inthe lower end of said reservoir, and a bed of iron filings supported onsaid strainer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK BOMMARIUS.

Witnesses:

JAMEs W. KIRCHHOFF, W. H. 000K.

